bad neighbors or is it me?

Question

My complex has nine apts. with no available parking. Street parking is normally full by 5pm. A about 4 years ago I moved the rear fence and created three parking spaces (with owner approval). I was the only one parking my two vehicles there. About a month ago a new move-in asked me if she could park in the empty space and I said yes. Now everyone rushes back there to park in total disreguard to my space. I know legally I have no grounds but morally I feel everyone should respect my space as they always have. Whats your thoughts?

Answer 1

There are a couple of things to consider here. First of all, you don't own the property, right? So even though you had owner approval to create three new spaces, did s/he also give you permission to reserve them for yourself? If not, then you didn't have the right to "give" a space to the new tenant.

Here's a simple solution: perhaps the landlord should charge a monthly "parking fee" for those who wish to use those spaces. You should receive first priority since you helped to create the spaces. The landlord could simply tack on a parking fee to the rent, and post signs indicating "reserved parking only."

I live in an apartment building in a residential neighborhood where parking becomes a premium after 5pm. I don't own a car, but my roommate does, and the landlord charges tenants an extra $25-50/month for the limited parking on the pad behind the building.

And yes, ethically the other tenants *should* respect the space you created, but since you opened it up to a brand new tenant without regard for other tenants, they probably figured it was just fair game.

Answer 2

Well you will not like my thoughts... why do you think that you should have rights to first 3 and then 2 spaces when there are 9 apartments in the first place which means between 9 and 18 cars total? Just because you thought of it first that does not mean that they are automatically yours. (and why do you have 2 cars there unless you have a partner who drives the other one, but you said "I" - you can drive only one at a time, and you said yourself that there is no parking available except your 3 spots and limited street which is a free-for-all). If you really think that it should be totally yours, then put up a sign stating that it is reserved for apt # ___, and then maybe they will leave it alone, but it is horribly selfish of you to expect that you should get special privileges unless you are paying extra for that privilege. You do not own the spaces unless you leased or bought them. I suppose you could always put up a barrier... but that is up to you. (and morally it is not your space to be respected, it is a common space that you happened to notice, but perhaps others had no idea it was allowed until the new girl showed that she was wise as well. You are not the only one who saw the opportunity, and once others found out that you did not truly have a special arrangement with the landlord but only permission to move a fence back to create some parking spaces - which were not marked reserved, the spaces were then as they should be, first come first serve, just like the street. Those "offenders" could also be newer than when you took a fence down just like the girl. Is there any way to move back more fencing? If so, maybe some of the other tennants would help you with the project. I still say though - if you are not paying a bit extra fee for the privilege and do not have anything written or any signage, sooner or later it was bound to happen and you can not really complain if it is not your space except for your car was there first. It is as much a hardship on the other 9 apartment dwellers as it is for you when parking and loading/unloading.

Answer 3

I know how u feel. I just hate parking issues in apts!! IF I were u I would be soooo mad at the neighbors for disregarding the space. They asked you before they used the space, and knew that u were using it. How inconsiderate of them. I lived in an apt complex, and would constantly have to do all of my errands before 4 or 5 pm because of parking issues. There was not anywhere to park on the street. Having a parking space near your door is priceless, especiallly when u buy groceries, or when ur feet are tired. Goodluck with the parking situation. Ever think of putting a reserved sign there to scare others away? LOL!!!

Answer 4

My fiancee and I were in this situation before we bought our house. The neighbor that lived in the front of the duplex would let her friends park in back, leaving no room for my fiancee and I to park, and when we parked in front, she would call the landlord and complain, and we were the ones who always got into trouble. What we did - we called the landlord and asked him if he could mediate between us and her, and after the meeting, she could only park in the front, and we could only park in the back. However, you are right, you don't have any grounds legally, but living in a complex like that, it might not be that easy to get people to respect your parking spot, assuming the fact that it's not assigned parking. Call your landlord and see if there is something he/she can do to alleviate the problem, because if you try to do it yourself, the only thing you're going to create is ill feelings between you and your neighbors, and some people are inclined to take revenge if you do say something to them. The landlord can make a plan without telling anyone who said what or if anything was said at all, and that's your best bet, short of moving.

Answer 5

No I agree with you, I would get with the neighbor that you agreed to let park there and see if the two of you could come up with a solution on keeping others out. Maybe roping the area off when you leave, I don't know if that would work because i have not seen the area but if you get the other neighbor involved you might feel like you have someone on your side and they always say two heads are better than one. I would leave the landlord out of this because he was nice enough to let you make you own space but if you keep pushing the issue it might get to be to much of a hassle for him and he might say forget the whole thing. Good Luck

Answer 6

it's you...the space belongs to the city..sorry to say....and two spaces no..i understand you had permission by the owner ...but the owner does not own the streets...I understand also what your trying to say ...after a long day at work you just want to go home ...and looking for parking with no avail is worst...At times for me when looking for parking I go around and around and around..so I understand if people get desperate for any parking available .....unless you was paying for the space i see no reason..why your neighbors are being bad. Get the community together and protest for parking for your complex . Good luck!

Answer 7

Sorry, but I have to say that it's you. This is a classic example of "you let one person do it, you have to let them all". Your neighbors probably didn't park there before because there was an implicit understanding that only you had authorization to park there because the owner gave you permission to move the fence. However, now that the neighbors see the new move-in parking there the spot has become fair game.

It's not easy being nice to others, is it? :)

Answer 8

put a sign up that says reserved for tenent and ask people to stop parking on your property. You can aslo talk to the owner about getting them to stop, they rented the apt knowing that parking was not available. I think legally you do have grounds, you are renting that space and they are violating it. Maybe check out the landlord/tenant act for your area and find out what you can do, there can be a ton of useful info in it.

Answer 9

Since the owner allowed you to create the parking spaces, then the same owner might allow you to post RESERVED signs in the space, therby making it legal to tow other vehicles...kinda depends on how tight you are with the owner. I agree, it's crappy of the other renters to park in your space, but are you sure they all know the story behind the space?

Answer 10

You should probably bring all those salient points to the attention of the other people parking in 'your' spots. Maybe they'll be sympathetic and respect your space. But if you can't count on other people's sensitivity to the situation, you're basically screwed.

That's an important life lesson, by the way.